How I Spend My Day At The HMB Pumpkin Festival (Fun)@HappyShortLunch

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival
October 18-19, 2025

A video of humor and laughs

Join us October 18-19, 2025 to celebrate the spectacular 53rd Annual Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival! The Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off kicks off festivities on Monday, October 13, on the IDES Grounds.
The Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival originated in 1971, created by the Main Street Beautification Committee to revitalize a decaying downtown area and raise funds for local causes. The committee decided to leverage the area's abundance of pumpkin patches to organize an old-fashioned harvest-style festival to attract visitors for pumpkin picking. The first festival was a success, and it has grown into a major event that supports local non-profits and civic improvements.
Formation of the committee: The Main Street Beautification Committee, an all-volunteer group, was formed in 1971 with the goal of beautifying Main Street and raising funds for its revitalization.
Festival's inception: Recognizing the area's plentiful pumpkin patches, the committee organized a harvest-style festival to attract visitors and raise money for their cause. For the first two years, the event was called the "Spanishtown Art & Pumpkin Festival".
Funding and civic improvements: The festival has become a major source of funding for the committee, which uses the proceeds for community service organizations and civic improvements, such as building parks, funding scholarships, and installing downtown streetlights.
Growth and impact
Increased attendance: The first festival drew an estimated 15,000 people, but today it attracts enormous crowds.
More participation: The festival has grown to include dozens of local non-profit groups operating food and game booths, which are a significant source of their annual income.
Major community event: The festival is now a signature event for the community, celebrating the local harvest and becoming a major tourist destination known as the "Pumpkin Capital of the World".
Circus meets the streets with Bob at Large, an amazing three-wheeling, cylinder stacking, comic explosion! Unbelievably high skills, audience participation, dangerous stunts, all tightly woven into a show with as much comic tension as a family of whales on a bungee cord. When, David Letterman saw the act he exclaimed, “That’s just insane Bob!” Now you decide: balanced inspiration or inspiration-ally unbalanced? Bring your whole family – Bob’s show is side-splitting laugh a minute fun.

Highway 1's history began with a physician's vision in the late 1800s and was constructed in stages, with the most difficult section through Big Sur opening in 1937, aided by New Deal funds and prison labor. Originally comprising several smaller, differently named routes, it was officially designated as California State Route 1 during the 1964 state highway renumbering. The road remains important but faces ongoing challenges from landslides and erosion.
The history of the city of Pacifica, California, involves its Ohlone and Spanish/Mexican past, the establishment of the Ocean Shore Railroad, and its eventual incorporation as a city in 1957. Early history includes the Ohlone village of Pruristac and the building of the Sanchez Adobe in the 1840s as a ranch home for Don Francisco Sanchez. The Ocean Shore Railroad was built in the early 1900s, connecting Pacifica to San Francisco. The city was officially incorporated in 1957, with its name chosen from a public contest, inspired by a statue from the Golden Gate International Exposition.
Pre-incorporation
Ohlone and Spanish eras: The area was originally inhabited by the Ohlone people. The Sanchez Adobe was built between 1842 and 1846 by Don Francisco Sanchez, a recipient of a land grant from the Mexican government.
American era: After California became a U.S. territory, the Sanchez Adobe changed hands multiple times and was used for various purposes, including a hotel, a speakeasy, and a hunting lodge.
Ocean Shore Railroad: The Ocean Shore Railroad was established in 1905, running along the coast and facilitating development in the area. Many remnants, like the large cut through the hills and old stations, can still be seen today.
Mid-20th century: The Sanchez Adobe was purchased by San Mateo County for use as a museum in 1947.

Incorporation: The city was officially incorporated on November 22, 1957. The name "Pacifica" was chosen from a contest, inspired by the "Lady of Peace" statue that was the theme for the 1939-40 Golden Gate International Exposition.
Coastal preservation: The 1970s saw increased efforts to protect Pacifica's coastal habitats and open spaces, leading to the establishment of organizations like the Pacifica Land Trust.
Recent history: The city continues to be a popular destination, known for its natural beauty and surfing spots. The Pacifica Historical Society works to preserve the city's past and runs the Pacifica Coastside Museum.

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